31 Points and a Rookie-Best 8 Threes. Olivia Miles Is Taking Over the WNBA and Golden State Needs a New Plan.

Holy smokes, Seattle! You hear about this Olivia Miles kid? Because if you haven't, you are seriously missing out on the future of the WNBA, right now. This rookie is absolutely torching the league, and the Minnesota Lynx are rolling, currently tied for the West's top record in the in-season tournament. This Friday night, the Lynx are heading into San Francisco for a rematch against the Golden State Valkyries, and trust me, there's some serious frustration and fire brewing after both these squads just barely missed out on the Commissioner's Cup. This isn't just another game, folks. This is a clash of two hot teams, and Miles is the one bringing the heat.

Miles Mania is Real, Y'all!

Let's talk about Olivia Miles for a second, because what she's doing is just ridiculous. We're talking about the No. 2 overall pick, a rookie, who already dropped 28 points on the Valkyries in their earlier 87-84 win, mostly thanks to a WNBA-rookie-best 8-for-11 from deep. Eight threes, people! She also found time for seven assists and three blocks, including one on Golden State's star point guard Veronica Burton, who only managed eight points on 3-for-8 shooting in that game. But Miles didn't stop there. She then put up 29 points in a narrow loss to Las Vegas, a game that actually cost the Lynx a Commissioner's Cup tie-breaker. And then, Wednesday night, she poured in a season-best 31 points in a win against the Los Angeles Sparks. Are you kidding me? This early flurry has rocketed her to the top of the

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

Rookie of the Year race and planted her firmly on the MVP watch list. The kid is humble too, telling the Los Angeles media, "It honestly just means that our team's doing really well, which is what I'm most proud of. Whether I win awards or not, I'm still the same me." That's the kind of competitor you love to see!

Golden State's Defensive Gauntlet

Don't sleep on the Valkyries, though. They're on a four-game winning streak and have been playing some seriously stifling defense. Golden State knows how to shut down stars, and they've proven it this week. They held Kelsey Plum to a measly nine points on 3-for-10 shooting in a 20-point home win over the Sparks. Then, against the Dallas Wings, they limited Paige Bueckers to just 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting in a 91-80 victory. A big part of that defensive scheme? Backup point guard Kaitlyn Chen. She was instrumental against Plum and Azzi Fudd, who struggled with 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting. Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase raved about Chen, saying, "I think Kaitlyn has fun because she prepares so much. Behind the scenes, the preparation, from reading a scout, to watching film. ... When she steps on the court, it's like her playground." So, while Miles is on fire, she's about to face a defense that is locked in. This Friday, the Lynx finish their two-game road trip against a Valkyries team that's hungry for revenge and boasts a defense ready to challenge Miles. Will the rookie phenom continue her MVP-level tear, or can Golden State's lockdown D finally slow her down? You know I'll be glued to the screen, watching every single play. Don't miss it, folks!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.